Traversing hoist



.'Nv. 5, 1929A G. A. GRAB TRAVERSING HOIST Filed March l, 1927 l 5Sheets-Sheet NL IKN Nov. 5, 1929. G. A. GRAB TRAVERS ING HOIST FiledMarch l. 1927 /qTrnR/vev/ l 3 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 5, 1929. G. A. GRABTRAVERSING HoIsT Filed March l, 1927 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATESGUSTAV A. GRAB, yOF PORTLAND,

PATENT OFFICE STEEL WORKS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON TRAVERSING HOISTApplication ined March i,

This invention relates generally to traversing lio-ists, andparticularly to the self-propelled type designed for surface operationand especially intended for the handling of objects by straddling saineand then picking 1 them up bodily, with special reference to thehandling of piled lumber.

The first object ofthis invention is to provide an exceedingly simpleand efficient traversing hoist having combined swinging and lifting armsby means of which the load can be engaged and suspended. y

The second object is to provide a special type of lifting mechanismemploying a selfopposed horizontal lifting screw.

T he third obj ect is to provide a positive upward and downward feedJfor the lifting mechanism. y n

The fourth object is to so construct the hoist that it can lift itswheels bodily olf from the ground for the purpose of extracting samefrom ruts, replacing the tires, or working on the wheels.

The fifth object is to employ one pair of opposed lifting frames of aiiexible nature which will permit the proper engagement with a load andthe ultimate alinement of the load with the hoist before the load islifted.

The sixth object is to secui'e great rigidity of the parts whilecarrying the load and flexibility in the load lifting' parts while inthe lowei'most portion of their travel.

The seventh object is to provide a hoist having its lifting ymemberspossessed of longitudinal rigidity and lateral iiexibility.

The eighth object is to so construct the hoist that it will beimpossible to operate the lifting mechanism until the load is properlyengaged, or in an innermost position.

The ninth object is to provide a power; driven lifting kmechanism and amanually operated load engaging mechanism within easy control of theoperator, making it possible for one operator to easily handle theinachine and pick up or place a load in any desired position.

The tenth object is to provide equalizing means for the connectionswhich urge the exi927. sei-iai No. 171,748.

treme ends of the lifting angles toward the load.

The eleventh object is to provide a yielding connection between thelifting' mechanism and the load supporting angle in order that slightobstacles in the road bed can be overcome by the bodily lifting of onecorner of the load supporting frame without the actual raising of thehoist itself or subjecting same to unusual shocks.

The twelfth object is to provide a hoist whose load-supporting andlifting members will not be rendered inoperative due to continued roughusage and shocks imposed thereon by the ei'icountering of obstructionsand the quick starting and stopping of the load.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specicationfollowing as illustrated in the accompanying' drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the traversing hoist. F igui'e 2 is alongitudinal section through the double end thrust bearing of thelifting screw. Figure 3 is a plan showing the lifting device andequalizing parts. Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the liiie1*4 iii Figure 3. Figure 5 is a horizontal section tal-:en along theline 5-5 in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a vertical section taken along theline 6-6 in Figure 3. Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken along theline 7 7 in Figure G. Figure 8 is aA transverse section taken along theiine 8-8 in Figure 1 showing' the hoist straddling a load preparatory toengaging saine. Figure 9 is a view f similar to Figure S showing thelifting dog moved into position against the load ready to start thelifting action. Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the loadlifted. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cross head guide. Figure12 is a horizontal section taken along the line 12-12 in Figure 1.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout` theseveral views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated a traversinghoist including the wheels 10, steering spindles '11, spindle brackets12 and longitudinal fiames 13, 14 and 15 which are joined by the crossframes 16, 17 7 1S and 19. The outline of an engine parallel with themembers l and operatoras seat 2l are also indicated.

On each side of the hoist, near each end thereof between its wheelmembers l0j are secured the spaced upright guides 22 consist-- ing ofinturned angles which are seemed to the members l, le and l5 by means ofthe clips 23. To the outer sides of the members 22, extending betweenthe members i3 and 149 are the out-turned angles 2e which act as lockspreventing the release of the load beiore it is otherwise supported.

Mounted between the inner members 22 is a cross liead l an elongatedvertical slot- 26. I 25 is attached by means of a li* lower end 28 of abell cranlr lever 29, whic pivotally mounted on the bracket- 30 wlii isattached to an upright frame member i The upper end of the bell cranllever jointed by a link 32 to a nut 32E on the three end 3l of the shaft35 provided with a douoie hrust bearing 36 which may be c nbined in one,or otherwise positioned as seems The shaft is supported in bearings 87on the frame 13.

ln the slot 2G is placed a pin pivotally supports one end of the loadsnpporting framey which consists of a pair upright angles 39 reinforcedby the arides and attached by the vertical pivo s el to die loadsupporti 1 angle 12 'oy mo interposed brzmiet e y i c high at its middlemovement betweenL and its attached load support' It will be understoodtha bers 17 provide only longr but are laterally flexible, at lea so topermit the ends of frames to move laterally with relatio= other-that is7tlie rearward end o frame can move laten `ly indepenne its forward end,and vice versa. Ubvioosv if the sides #il were made straigns-tha; is,

fail to bacli up the side of trie member e' or would otherwis clamprigidly to the uprights 3S), in which lateral i@ "ibility would beeliminated, which is one oi L; e L sons existing types of lioists employseparate shoes7 else employ laterally ri ji load lifting shoes.

It will be understood that a sinilar arrangement of p t each end s ispositioned of the load supporting angle and that is a load support-ingangle on each side o hoist7 also that the load supporti. face each otherfor the purpose of the under side of the bolster end which lumber e6, orother objects,

'On top of the frames l7 and 18 i the plates e7 ipon each of whichmounted a lever el@ on the pivot e9. Gn the end of each :arse eso leverl is mounted a floating lever 50 to whose nembers ,5l and 52 areattached the connecting rods which extend laterally to the pivotalconnections 5e wiich, in turn7 carry the rollers 55 operating in a teeslot in the member 56 secured to the upper end of the loat supportingframe. Similar parts 47 to connect transversely the other ends of theopposite frames.

. Tae shafts 35 are provided with right and left threads at theiropposite ends and the two are provided with the sprockets 57 areconnected by the chains 58 to the ets 59 from the Clutch power shaft 60which. is provided with an upright clutch control lever 6l in whose pathis placed a springu pin G2 which is normally held out of of the lever 6lby its spring. On the p dinal frame member 63 is mounted an uprigntsnaft(3l to which is attached a two armed lever 65 from whose arms extend therods 65 to the floating lever 50. aft be is mounted in a longitudinalslot mit-ting saine to nieve forward or rrd to equalize the pulls on theforward in rard floating levers 50, each of which 'l vn. iualizes thepulls of the laterally exto engage the pin G2 when the lever 69 ispushed away from the operator, causing the end of the pin 62 tointercept the clutch lever 6l. in other words-the lever G9, whosemovement way from the operator causes the load supporting angles tospreadawa-y from the load prevents the clutch lever Gl which controlsthe application of power to the lift-ing mechanism, from being operated;but when the lever 69 is pulled toward the operator and the load isengaged it is possible to move the clutch lever 61 to an operatingposition.

ln other words-if the operator wishes to piclr up a load l e must lirsttalre hold of it by neans of the shoes L l2 which he must place underthe ends Ll5 of the bolsters. To do this the operator pulls the lever 69toward him-that is, away from the position shown in Figure 3, which willycause the push rods 53 to move outwardly and the lower ends of the loadlifting frames to spring inwardly. bviously, this will permit the pin 62to clear the clutch control lever 6l and allow the operation of thelifting mechanism. Since the cam 68 must free the pin 62 it follows thatif for any reason the shoes 42 do not pass under the ends Ll5 of thebolsters then the lever 69 cannot be operated suliiciently far towardthe driver to 'permit an attempt at lifting the load.

lt is preferable to provide a guide 7() for the upper side of each rod53, since tnese would otherwise move upwardly when the load was beingraised causing a change in 'regres theiry length and a consequentlateral movement of the load supporting angles 42.

N o attempt has been made toelaborate on details not intimatelyconnected 'with this in-` vention, and it is not intended that theprecise forms of elements herein illustratedare essential to theoperativeness ofthe hoist. It is a well knowny fact that many yforms oftraversing hoists have been constructed kin the past in which fourindependent load supporting arms were swung beneath the frames of suchmachines. In many instances these were rigidly connected `together `bymechanical operating means, and in-other instances they have been ymadeseparately operable and yielding. f In this instance, however, a loadsupporting angleis placed on each side of the load, and while this angleis flexible or yielding as to angularity for the purpose of adaptingitself to the relation between the hoist and a load about to be pickedup, these angles are not capabley of endwise movement with relation tothe hoist itself. In other words-any jars or impacts which would tend tomove the angles 42 longitudinally are transferred directly to the crossheads which are rigidly guided in the frame of the hoist, and the loadsupporting frames themselves are rigidly braced longitudinally withrelation to the load supporting angles, by ymeans of the braces 7l whichare relatively thin and fief;-`

ible.

It can now be seen that should the hoist be run straddling over the topof a pile of lumber, although not exactly in line with samek (as is mostoften the case) that the operator havin stopped the hoist near themiddle of the pi e now pulls the lever 69 toward him,

which tends to draw the laterally opposed corners ofthe loadsupportingangle toward each other. Obviously, if the load is out of linewith the hoist, one corner of the angle will engage the bolster end45before its mates. At this point the lateral equalization of the partsoccurs at the end of the hoist, first to engagethe load, and the sameoperation` then transpires at the opposite end of the hoist; and addedto this equalization feature is the fore and aft equalization throughthe rod G6, which makes it certain that the load supporting angles willassume their proper' relation to the bolsters which support the load,as, for example, as shown in Figure 9.

It will be noted in Figure 8 that the point 72 of the load supporting`frame does not bear against the angle 24 at this time, but is below theend of same and is above the pin 38, which makes it possible for theangle 42 to swing outwardly between the wheels l0. However, when theangle Ll2 has been moved to the position shown in Figure 9 by means ofthe lever 69 and the pin 62, which locks the clutch lever 6l, istherefore withdrawn,

24, making it impossible for same to spread at its lower endssufficiently to allow the load to escape and fall to the ground.

Again, it will be notedfin Figure 9 that if, for any reason such asirregularities in the roadway or otherfactor, one corner of the loadsupporting member should be raised, that such action will be possiblewithout serious consequences, owing to the slot 26 which permits the pin38 t0 rise therein without exerting alifting' action on the frameitself, at least for a predetermined distance, which is suilicient totake care of all ordinary contingencies. n

It is perferable in some instances to provide a guide 7 3 for the uppersides of the nuts 83 to take care of the upward thrusts against theshaft 35 between its bearings 37. In Figure 2 is illustrated a doubleend thrust bearf tween the cross heads and their guides, or the wheelswere being lifted up by placing a bolster under the load supportingangles for the purpose previously mentioned, in which case the shaftwould be placed in compression.

hile the members 73 are useful in providin g lateral reinforcement forthe shaft 35, their main function is to prevent the rotation of the nuts33 on ythe threaded portion of the shaft 35. f f

It will be understood that the object in preventing the occurrence ofany lifting action before the yload supporting frames are in theirproper position-that is,'e.itherengaging a load or in their innermostpositions, is because even if it werey possible to apply the liftingaction when the lower ends of the load supporting frames were not intheir .innermost position, such lifting action would result in a gradualforcing in of the load engaging members due to the fact that the point72 will ride upon the members 2st. This would f result either insplitting the object between the load supports or seriously damaging theoperating mechanism, and in all probability it would be the latter ofthese two conditions.

It can be readily seen that, due to various conditions such asdepressions in the ground, poorly piled. loads, trash or otherobstacles, may prevent the load supporting angles from passing under theends l5 of all of the 1'eolsters. Especially at night is the operatorunable toobserve such conditions closely, and theresult is that if heundertakes to lift an improperly engaged load the engaging membersmerely claw' up the sides of the pile and tend to further disrupt same,or else seriously injure the mechanism, as above stated.

It is for this purpose that there is provided the clutch leverintercepting pin 62 which renders it a physical impossibility to liftthe load unless all of the holsters are properly engaged.

I claim:

1. In a traversing hoist, the combination of a wheeled straddle framehaving vertical guides on the sides thereof; a cross head in each ofsaid guides; a laterally flexible and longitudinally rigid loadsupporting frame at each side of said frame hingedly mounted at itsforward and rearward ends on said cross heads; and a load supportingangle attached to the lower end of said load supporting frame by meansof pivotal connections adapted to permit independent lateral movement ofthe forward and rearward ends of said frame.

2. In a traversing hoist, the combination of a wheeled straddle framewith a pair of spaced vertical slides at each side of said frame; across head in each slide; a longitudinalrrigid frame rhinged near themiddle of its height to said cross heads, the lower ends of said framehaving a load supporting angle attached thereto by means of verticalpivots adapted to permit independent lateral movement of the ends ofsaid frame; and means incorporated in said slide for preventing outwardswinging of the lower end of said frame when in a raised position.

In a traversing hoist the combination of a wheeled frame having avertical slide near each uppercornerthereof, a cross-head mounted ineach slide said cross-heads having means for positively operating samein unison upwardly and downwardly, each slide having an extension guidethereon, a longitudinal load supporting frame along each side of saidhoist hinged to said cross-heads, a longitudinal foot extending acrossthe lower ends of each load supporting frame, said load supporting framehaving portions thereof above its hinge adapted to engage said extensionguide when raised in a manner to prevent an outward movement of the footq of said load supporting frame, said upwardly extending portion thereofclearing said extension guide in a manner to permit the outward swingingof said load supporting frame in a lowered position.'

Ll. In a traversing hoist the combination of two pairs of laterallydisposed spaced ver tical guides arranged in tandem with a crossheadmounted in each of said guides having means for positively operatingsame in both vertical directions, a unitary load supporting framebetween each lateral pair of crossheads consisting of two upright endmembers having laterally flexible longitudinal braces between same, alongitudinal load supporting angle uniting the lower ends of each loadsupporting frame, said end menibers being adapted to permit lateralflexibility of movement of said load supporting angle, said uprightshaving hinged connections to said cross-heads adapted to permit alimited amount of free upward movement to either end of a loadsupporting frame, means for locking said load supporting frame againstoutwardly swinging movement as soon as it begins to rise, and means forpreventing the operation of said cross-heads unless both of said loadlifting frames are in a load engaging position along their entirelengths.

5. In a traversing hoist, a load lifting mechanism consisting of ahorizontal threaded shaft having a pair of nuts mounted thereon, a bellcrank lever mounted under each nut, a cross-head under each bell cranklever, connecting links between each nut and cross-head and its bellcrank lever, and means for suspending a load from said cross-heads.

G. In a traversing hoist, a load lifting mechanism consistingof ahorizontal shaft having opposite threads formed thereon; a nut on eachof said opposite threads; a bell crank lever under each of said nuts; avertically slidable cross head under each of said bel crank levers; linkmeans between each of said bell crank levers and its associated crasshead and operating nut; and means for rotating said shaft.

i'. In a traversing hoist, a load lifting mechanism consisting oflongitudinally spaced vertical guides att-achable to the hoist; a crosshead mounted in each guide; a unitary load supporting frame hinged nearthe middle of its height to said cross heads, said frame havinglongitudinal rigidity over its entire area and lateral flexibility atthe lower load engaging end thereof, the upwardly extending ends of saidframe having equalized lateral thrust rods attached thereto for thepurpose of swinging the load engaging end of said frame inwardly; apower driven horizontal shaft mounted above said cross heads havingopposite threads formed thereon over the two cross heads, each of saidthreadet portions having a nut thereon provided with operatingbell cranklevers and links whereby a rotative movement of said shaft which movessaid nuts toward each other will raise said cross heads.

8.l In a traversing hoist, a load lifting mechanism consisting oflongitudinal spaced vertical guides attachable to the hoist; a. crosshead mounted in each guide; a unitary load supporting frame hinged nearthe middle of its height to said cross heads, said frame havinglongitudinal rigidity over its entire area and lateral flexibility atthe lower load engaging end thereof, the upwardly extending ends of saidframe having equalized lateral thrust rods attached thereto for thepurpose of swinging the load engaging ICO ' links whereby a rotativemovement of said shaft which moves said nuts toward each yother willraise said cross heads; and clutch means between said shaft and itssource of power having means for locking same out of engagement whensaid load supporting frame is not in a complete load engaging position.

9. In a traversing hoist7 the combination of a wheeled frame having twopairs of vertical guides attached thereto in parallel longitudinalplanes; a cross head in each guide; a unitary frame having longitudinalrigidity and lateral flexibility hinged across both of said cross headsabove the middle of the frame height; a horizontal self-opposed screwmounted on said frame above said cross heads; a nut on each end of saidscrew, a bell crank lever under each nut; link means for operativelyconnecting each bell crank lever to its cross head; and equalizedconnecting rod means for moving the lower corners of said loadsupporting frame into a load engaging position; said equalized meansforming a lock for preventing the operation of said cross frame; across-head in each of said slides, a longitudinal load lifting framehinged along s each side of said hoist to the cross-heads above same,each of said load lifting frames having their upper ends projectingabove their points of hinging; floating levers between the forward andrearward upwardly projecting ends of said load lifting frames, bellcrank levers mounted on said floating levers; push rods between saidbell crank levers and the forwardly projecting ends of said load liftingframes, a second floating lever between said first mentioned lloatinglevers having connecting rods between same and said bell crank levers;lever means for actuating said second mentioned floating lever, a camoperated by said second mentioned floating lever7 and means actuated bysaid cam for preventing vertical movement of said cross-heads when saidload lifting frame is not in a load en- @faminer position. t D eUsTAv A.GRAB.

